Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have an '05 female that I purchased in August that has only eaten once for me. The one time that she did eat, she took a f/t, brained pinky. Her male sibling eats any and everything placed in front of him. I have tried f/t, brained, halved, scented with lizard maker, scented with mouse maker, everything but live. The only reason that I haven't tried live is that I can't find any live pinkies that are small enough. I feed in small containers and at night. Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks, db

cool them off for the winter but before doing that try bumping the heat up a bit. My hatchlings are eating and thriving fine at 76-80 and I'm in North Florida. If you are in more northern parts of the US, you may just have to go ahead and put them down for a winters rest.

Thayeri can be some of the more sensitive snakes when it comes to temps....my experience. When I first got into thayeri back in 97 my very first snake was a pretty milk snake phase that I purchased at Christmas and it ate 2 times and didn't eat again until February. On the flip side, I've had them feed all through the winter but the room temps stayed at 76-82 and they always had access to a hot spot.

Good luck and don't sweat it too much.

Russ

Russ is right Danny....sometimes all they need is a cooling period of about 6 weeks......I have never kept a hatchling down ALL winter, but I am sure it has been done......I have gotten some stubborn feeders eating after 6 weeks of cooling off and them warming them back up.....
Is the snake looking thin at all?
You know since it has eaten her metabolism has kicked in and if she looks thin I would not cool her off......I would force feed some mouse tails is she is too far gone already for a cooling period....
Just a thought.....

John Lassiter

You might want to try tease feeding. It's the next best thing to live.
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Vichris

Vichris Variables

DANNY....Here is something I posted a while back that may help you out.....I use these steps every year, but have a few more techniques depending on the shape / health the snake is in.....

Step 1: Offer live newborn pinkie. If it is refused then....

Step 2: Offer brained, live pinkie (YES brained and live) Or Brain a thawed pink and smear the brain matter on the live pinks nose. The brained pinkie is cut from snout to base of skull. If it is taken, reduce the incision each time until it is no longer necessary to stimulate feeding. If it is refused then....

Step 3: Offer the brained, live pinkie under a dark, nontranslucent bowl with the stubborn feeder. Cover the snake and the prey and check in about 30 minutes or so. This has been the most effective method w/o scenting involved. If the snake refuses then...

Step 4: A lizard has to be obtained. I use Med. House Geckos. Freeze the lizard in a deep freeze right away for about 1 hour. Get a live newborn pinky and put the frozen lizard and the live pink in a container together and remove from freezer. The warmth of the pinkie will absorb the scent. Place it under a dark bowl with the snake and check in about 30 minutes or so. If the snake refuses then....

Step 5: Thaw out the lizard and cut its abdomen open. Dip the head of the pinkie into the guts of the lizard. Place some skin from the lizard on the pinky's head and place under the dark bowl with the snake. If this fails then....

Step 6: Most people would go ahead and repeat all the steps above for about 6 to 8 weeks until they get results. If the stubborn feeder does not feed then drop its temps to around 55 or 60 degrees for about 6 to 8 weeks. After removal from the temps repeat all the steps above.
Other people would feed then small lizards or lizard parts. I have had luck feeding them about 4 to 5 lizard meals then scenting pinks with such lizards. I have also had luck hibernating and then feeding. Remember if you start forcefeeding you will have to continue to do so to keep weight on the snake. It also stresses the snake out and it is harder to get them to start feeding on their own. Also, forcefeeding will kick in their metabolism and they will need to keep eating to keep on weight. They can live for months on the eggyolk absorbed in the egg. Just letting them wait on a winter cooling usually helps alot for spring feeding. I hear of people forcefeeding mouse tails successfully, but I have never even attempted it. The only force feeding I have done has had a low percentage of success. I have blended pinkies and used pinky pumps. I have even used Veal Gerbers baby food mixed with Pedialyte and Multivitamins successfully, but again it stressed the snake.
This is my abridged version but it should help you out. If you have any problems getting any thing eating drop me an email and I would be glad to help you out. Snakes are individual and each need a little something to get them convinced to eat pinkies and frozen thawed too...

JOHN LASSITER

Wow. You can't get any more detailed than that. Great advice. I have a couple non feeders myself that I plan to get on the Lassiter program right away. lol. Thanks.
Ken

You are welcome Ken....Email me if you have any more questions...I will be glad to help you out bro....If I can..
John Lassiter

I woke up this morning to find her coiled up with a nice fat lump in her stomach.

It took everything that I had in me to perform step 2, but it worked. Hopefully I can get her to take f/t and won't have to go through that again.

I'll try to take a couple of pics of my babies and post them in the next day or two.

Thanks guys, especially you John, for all of your suggestions.

db

Danny....Next time use a frozen / thawed pinky and brain it....also you can smear some brain matter/blood from the f/t onto a live pink.....
Glad it worked for you man...
John Lassiter

My juv thayeri prefer sauteed pinkies in a white wine sauce served over babies greens and shallots.

DV

LOL....
It's because you got those "high-class" thayeri too good for an ole brained pinky mouse......HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

John Lassiter

you would use white wine with red meat.

I've taught my snakes to use proper culinary etiquette. Pinkies SHOULD be sauteed in a red or burgandy wine, and definitely NOT white wine. It's much better for their palate. I'll give you, the baby greens a shallots are a nice touch.

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Vichris

Vichris Variables

Make a little hollow in the bedding under the water bowl and putting the pink there. leave overnight and let the snake find it naturally. This has worked often for me in the past.

Tony...
Thanks for that tip..Seems very logical..I will most certainly use it in the future....and add it to my "steps".
You do this technique with a live pinky?

Thanks again,
John Lassiter

Tony,
That is a great recommendation and probably very accurate as far as what conditions would be like in nature ie...rock crevices..etc.

Do you still have the albino crosses?

Russ